Right-wing march in Arab town set

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A far-right-wing march will take place in a northern Israeli Arab town.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel of the hard-line National Union Party will lead the march in Umm el-Fahm, which they announced Thursday will take place March 24. Thousands of police officers will be mobilized to protect the marchers, who will wave Israeli flags.

The march had been scheduled for December but was canceled by police out of fear that riots would break out.

Israel’s Supreme Court ordered police to allow the march to take place within six weeks of Israel’s national elections Feb. 10.

Marzel had been scheduled to serve as a polling station judge in Uhm el-Fahm during elections, but police did not allow him to enter the town on Election Day. A Jewish lawmaker sent in his place left the town after riots broke out.

Arab lawmakers on Thursday called the march a provocation and threatened to prevent it.